Belvidere North repeats as sectional cross country champs

BELVIDERE — Belvidere North’s Tyler Yunk repeated as boys cross country sectional champion Saturday. But it wasn’t his individual first-place that made him smile.

Emily Tropp

BELVIDERE — Belvidere North’s Tyler Yunk repeated as boys cross country sectional champion Saturday. But it wasn’t his individual first-place that made him smile.

“I’d rather have my team win than win as an individual,” Yunk said after his first-place time of 15:05.3 led North to the Class 2A Belvidere Sectional team title.
“These guys are my great friends and I’ve been running with them since I was real young. So it’s more of a team thing than an individual thing. I’d rather have us all win together than just be greedy and try and get it for myself.”

The Blue Thunder edged Yorkville by 29 points led by three top-10 finishers. North junior Paxson Medard (15:19.6) pushed Yunk most of the way and finished third, while second place went to Crystal Lake Central’s Alex Baker (15:13.7).
Garrett Lee (15:37.5) and Will Crocker (15:58.9) placed eighth and 18th, respectively.

“We were trying to keep our top four together at the mile and then let them go a little bit after that,” North coach Troy Yunk said. “It kind of went a little sooner and they got split up a little earlier. But, we wanted Tyler to take it after the first mile, and he did. I think he was more worried about his teammates than anything, and of course Paxson was right behind him. And Yorkville had a nice pack running with our fourth guy.”

Kaleb Gustafson (16:15.1), Jesse Laseman (16:22.2) and Chase Hill (16:34.9) also led North, which advanced to the Nov. 5 state meet in Peoria where it will try to win its third straight championship.

Dixon and DeKalb advanced out of a tough girls sectional at Belvidere that was won by Yorkville. Dixon placed third led by Brittany Schwarz’s sixth-place time of 18:17.3. DeKalb finished fifth behind the second-place finish from Kelsey Schrader (17:42.8). Crystal Lake Central freshman Sami Staples won the meet with a 17:39.4.

The season ended for Boylan, which finished ninth behind a 21st-place finish by Deirdre Coyle (18:58.3), just missing the cut by five seconds.

“They ran their hearts out,” Boylan assistant coach Ann Marie Coyle. “This sectional alone had nine teams that are ranked in the state, and only five teams go. We knew we had a shot, but it was going to have to be a perfect day. I don’t think all of our girls had PR’s, but they all ran tough, and I wouldn’t say anyone had a bad race.”

Freeport finished in 11th place with sophomore Ellie Willging’s 30th-place time of 19:04.9. North and Rochelle finished 12th and 17th, respectively. Freshman Carley Lutzow (19:04.2) led North, while Michelle Dobbs had a team-best 19:47.2.

Staff reporter Emily Tropp can be reached at 815-987-1385 or etropp@rrstar.com.

Staff reporter Emily Tropp can be reached at 815-987-1385 or etropp@rrstar.com.

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